Welcome to AcceleratorCon
Schedule
November 7th, 2025
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Center 415
Meet with accelerator representatives, business advisors, and industry experts to learn about the different options available and how they can benefit your business.
VIP Lounge
Join us for a candid, on-stage conversation with our keynote speaker as we explore their personal journey, lessons learned, and bold visions for the future. This isn’t just a talk—it’s a deep dive into how they’ve navigated innovation, leadership, and impact in an ever-evolving landscape. Expect insights you won’t find in a bio, and practical wisdom for founders, investors, and ecosystem builders alike.
Raising a fund today goes far beyond warm intros and legacy networks. This session explores where capital is actually coming from in 2025–2026—from emerging LP platforms and family office syndicates to mission-aligned institutions, strategic corporate partners, and niche community allocators. Learn how modern fund managers are leveraging AI tools, storytelling, and differentiated sourcing strategies to close faster with the right LPs—and build funds that stand out in a crowded market.
Thousands apply. Few get in. This session pulls back the curtain on what actually makes an application stand out—and what gets it tossed. From vague traction claims to tone-deaf market sizing, hear directly from accelerator leads, scouts, and selection teams on the most common missteps founders make and how to avoid them. We’ll also cover what’s changing in 2025: how AI-written apps are being flagged, what signals screeners care about most, and what to double down on if you want your story to stick.
From LLMs to scraping tools, accelerators and VCs are using AI to find founders before they pitch. This session explores how scouts, platforms, and firms are leveraging behavioral signals, founder fingerprints, and AI-powered search to gain early access—and what it means for the future of sourcing.
What if your fundraising process could be 5x more efficient? In this session, founders and fundraisers share how they use AI to find aligned investors, tailor decks, and prep for due diligence with superhuman speed. Plus: tools, templates, and time-savers that actually work.
How do you scale your output without scaling your team? This hands-on session explores how VCs and accelerator leaders are using AI agents, no-code automations, scraping tools, and virtual workflows to streamline sourcing, back-office ops, founder engagement, and LP comms. Walk away with frameworks, tools, and plug-and-play ideas to reclaim your time and expand your reach—without burning out.
Behind every accelerator is a promise—but what’s the reality? This candid conversation dives into the tradeoffs founders face when joining programs: pressure to perform, alignment challenges, and power dynamics that are often unspoken. Hear from founders and accelerator leaders about what actually creates value, where things go off track, and how both sides can protect the vision while building trust and momentum.
A bold look at how VCs and accelerators are breaking away from the traditional 2%/20% structure. From subscription fees and equity-as-a-service to venture studios, rev share deals, and platform monetization—this session explores the new business models redefining how value is created and captured in early-stage ecosystems.
This season, AcceleratorCON brings together top community builders and ecosystem architects to unpack a powerful idea: community is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a core go-to-market strategy. Learn how founders and operators are using engaged networks to build trust, drive adoption, and grow efficiently. This session goes beyond buzzwords to explore tactical strategies—from onboarding loops to customer-led storytelling—that turn community into a true distribution channel and an engine for product–market fit at scale.
With private companies staying private longer and liquidity events stretching a decade or more, early-stage fund managers are being forced to rethink how they manage capital, risk, and expectations. LPs want to see DPI, not just paper gains. Founders and early employees are increasingly asking for liquidity options. And with the rise of micro-funds and rolling closes, cash flow planning is more critical than ever.
In a world where AI replaces the first 10 hires, who actually needs a seat at the table? This session explores how AI-first startups are redefining team structure—balancing automation with human capital. From deciding when to hire vs. delegate to an agent, to avoiding leadership blind spots and product velocity bottlenecks, we’ll break down what an efficient, modern team looks like—and how to build one.
The Draft is where top startups get scouted—live. Pre-selected founders meet 1:1 with leading accelerators and VC firms in a fast-paced, high-stakes matchmaking experience. Think of it as the startup world’s version of the NFL Draft: curated, competitive, and full of opportunity. One standout will earn a spot on the “Draft Class of 2024” and win access, visibility, and a surprise prize drop.
Forget full-stack builds. The smartest founders are validating AI-enabled products using no-code tools, manual workflows, fakes, and backdoors—long before touching code or fine-tuning a model. In this session, we’ll unpack how to de-risk and devalidate early AI concepts with speed and creativity, so you don’t waste time building the wrong thing.
How do you launch a fund or accelerator from scratch at your university? Whether it’s a faculty-led accelerator, an alumni-backed seed fund, a donor-supported innovation hub, or a hybrid model—this session breaks down the structures, partnerships, and strategies that make it happen. From pitch to pilot, learn how to activate capital, earn institutional buy-in, and create a lasting support system for the next generation of student founders.
A discussion from our Sponsor
Demo Day isn’t the finish line—it’s the starting point. In this session, we’ll explore how VCs and accelerator programs are building long-term value after the pitch, from follow-on capital and growth-stage support to content, community, and capital stack continuity. Learn how to create post-program engagement loops that deepen founder loyalty, boost brand equity, and turn your alumni into breakout wins.
Accelerator, incubator, venture studio—they all support startups, but the structures, outcomes, and incentives behind them are radically different. In this conversation, we’ll break down the core differences in ownership models, funding dynamics, founder engagement, and exit strategies. Learn how to choose the right model for your goals—whether you’re a founder, investor, university, or government agency—and how these models are evolving in a post-AI, post-Demo Day world.
State governments, economic development agencies, and EDCs have a unique role in shaping the future of innovation. This session explores how public institutions are partnering with accelerators, VCs, and founder communities to drive job creation, fund new ventures, and unlock untapped regional potential. Learn what’s working—and what’s next—in state-backed innovation models.
Get a front-row seat to an exclusive conversation with the founder of AcceleratorCON as she reflects on the movement that sparked a national ecosystem—and where it’s headed next. From the evolution of the platform to bold new bets, this session will reveal what’s coming for 2025
Join us for a candid, on-stage conversation with our keynote speaker as we explore their personal journey, lessons learned, and bold visions for the future. This isn’t just a talk—it’s a deep dive into how they’ve navigated innovation, leadership, and impact in an ever-evolving landscape. Expect insights you won’t find in a bio, and practical wisdom for founders, investors, and ecosystem builders alike.